The improper compensation of the pilot of the 'Kpe B. Wyatt' for a river cross-current resulted in an allision with a bridge at Fort Madison, Iowa lon May 9, 2024, according to a report, released by the National Transport Safety Board on July 10, 2025. The tug was pushing 15 barges down the Mississippi near Fort Madison on that day. As the pilot rounded Dutchman Island and lined up on the main span of the Fort Madison Bridge, an old swing bridge with a 200-foot-wide main channel, he intentionally steered to starboard of the charted sailing line. Based on 24 years of experience and 15 transits of this particular route, he expected to encounter a cross-current from around the other side of the island, which he believed would set the tow to port. The effects of that cross-current did not materialize, leaving the tug off course and headed at eight knots for a bridge piling protection cell. The pilot had about 1,900 feet of forward travel distance remaining to react. He increased power and attempted to swing the head of the tow to port, back into the center of the channel. Though he avoided a head-on allision, which could have seriously affected the two deckhands up at the head of the tow, the maneuver was not quite successful, and the third barge on the starboard side hit the protection cell fendering system. The tow broke up and about a dozen barges drifted off downriver, with two deckhands aboard. One barge eventually sank and was later refloated. No injuries or pollution were reported. Damage to the bridge fenders, the barges and the 'Joe B. Wyatt' was estimated at about $3.3 million. The report stated that there was no evidence that the pilot was fatigued, impaired, or distracted before or during the casualty. Given the vessel’s speed at the time, the following current, and the number of barges, there was likely not time for the pilot to prevent the contact with the protection cell by backing the tow. The agency concluded that the pilot overcompensated for the expected crosscurrents. It advised that a charted sailing line is a safe route when used as a guide, "along with the mariner’s own experience and assessment of the existing circumstances. Report with photo: https://maritime-executive.com/article/ntsb-experienced-towboat-pilot-hit-a-bridge-on-the-mississippi
News
WAKASHIO
Five years after the 'Wakashio' ended up on the reefs of Pointe-d'Esny on July 25, 2020, the ecological and social wounds have beem remaining open. Fishermen and coastal workers, heavily affected by the oil spill, were still waiting for proper compensations. Temporary aid and partial compensation have been paid by the authorities and the ship's insurer, but these amounts were considered insufficient by the victims. Since then, no significant progress has been reported. More than seven months after an initial questioning in Parliament, MP Tony Apollon was asked whether the report of the commission of inquiry into the disaster will be made public., while the Attorney General's office continues to examine available legal avenues. From August 2020 to March 2021, 999 people (professional fishermen, holders of recreational boat licenses, and street vendors working along the beaches in the area) received 10,200 Mauritian rupees per month, or approximately €191 per month. The funds paid out represent 7% of the sums disbursed by insurers and the government. Following the accident, fishermen have noted a decline in biodiversity. Professionals are seriously considering retraining in the agri-food sector. Fishing is no longer profitable, and in winter, weather conditions do not allow for offshore fishing.
CUYAHOGA
Arrived Scrapyard at Marine Recycling Corp. Port Colborne, CA https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10163301382315996&set=pcb.1471061740988508
FREDRIKKE T-OLSEN
On July 29, the 'Fredrikke T. Olsen' suffered a technical fault and proceeded from Træna to Sandnessjøen for repairs. Onward transportation from Træna on July 30 at 01:05 p.m. has been cancelled as a consequence. Travellers who were going on from Træna were asked to check alternative travel options.
ICON OF THE SEAS
On July 27 a passenger of the 'Icon of the Seas' accidentally fell from the Hideaway Pool on Deck 15 into the pool gutter while attempting to retrieve his sunglasses. The crew responded immediately. Fortunately, the guest was not injured. A second safety railing at the outer edge of the pool prevented a more serious oucome. Below the pool is a narrow maintenance corridor, secured by an additional glass barrier. The man hit this barrier and merely fell into the gap – he remained on Deck 15, albeit in an area not normally accessible to the public. Meanwhile the South African female crew member, who was stabbed multiple times by a 35-year-old South African man on July 24 off the coast of San Salvador Island in the Bahamas, was recovering at a Miami hospital and in a stable condition. Following the incident, which was a personal dispute, the man then fled the scene and jumped off the ship, being later found deadin the sea. The cruise operator Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident and has pledged its full cooperation with the Bahamian authorities.
FV SAINT PHILIPPE
On the evening of July 28, 2025, the 'Saint Philippe' sufffered an engine damage with subsequent electrical failure, which deprived of its navigation instruments, off the coast of Fort de l'Heurt. The trawler requested assistance, and from the SNSM station in Boulogne-sur-Mer. the all-weather lifeboat 'Président Jacques Huret' was launched to assist the ship. The trawler was taken in tow and returned to the Loubet dock in Boulogne-sur-Mer in order to fix the damage. Report with photo: https://www.nordlittoral.fr/255819/article/2025-07-30/boulogne-sur-mer-les-sauveteurs-en-mer-ramenent-au-port-un-chalutier-de-100
ROSSINI
The role of the 'Rossini' as an emergency refugee shelter in Bach upon the Danube in the Regensburg district is to end on July 31, after about 2,5 years. Asylum seekers were moving to a smaller, decentralized shelter in the district. A total of approximately 90 people were still accommodated on the ship. The district office cited the rental of other living spaces in various communities and a change in immigration patterns as reasons for closing the emergency shelter. A total of around 630 asylum seekers have been accommodated on the ship since the start of Feb 2023. At its peak, up to 190 people had been on board at the same time. The remaining 52 residents will now be distributed among decentralized accommodations and the remaining emergency shelters. The ship was moored primarily in Bach, but also in Donaustauf, several kilometers upstream, for a good six months. The cost of the emergency accommodation on the ship was less than €25 per person for an overnight stay. According to the police, things on the "Rossini" were unobtrusive and peaceful. After the emergency shelter has closed, the "Rossini" will head downstream on the Danube to the shipyard in Linz.
MSC ANTONIA
After analysing a series of incidents, involving the grounding of the 'MSC Antonia', the Norwegian marine insurance company Gard has called on shipping companies to increase preparedness and technical upgrade of ships regarding GPS jamming and spoofing, to which also the 'MSC Antonia' was exposed, causing it to running onto the Eliza Shoals west of Jeddah. The analysis documents GPS disruptions in 2025 in, among others, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Israeli coast, and map data from Gard shows that an increasing number of global conflict zones have been affected this year.The recent incidents in the world's conflict zones were highlighting the very real and immediate dangers posed by compromised global navigation satellite systems. Disruptions can lead to ships arriving outside their arrival window or losing access to berths, resulting in commercial losses and potential disputes.One ship during a total GPS disruption used ECDIS's estimated position function (EP, ed.), which estimates the ship's location based on previous movements. The ship ended up grounding on a coral reef at high speed, over 40 nautical miles from its actual position. In another case from 2025, a ship was prevented from sailing from a port in the Red Sea when its GPS signal showed a location deep in the Sahara Desert. The disruption lasted for over a week, causing significant delays and a contractual dispute between the ship’s owner and charterer. Another analysis by Windward in May found that the average distance that vessels “jump” to when their AIS is blocked has increased dramatically from 600 km in Q4 2024 to 6,300 km in Q1 2025. Gard therefore encouraged operators to install secondary satellite receivers and train crews in how to handle navigation anomalies. Gard recommended that ships have clear procedures for when a voyage should be completed or aborted in the event of GPS disruption, and that shipping companies invest in technical solutions such as anti-spoofing equipment and alternative navigation systems.
KM.BARCELONA V.A
The local search and rescue (SAR) agency in Manado, North Sulawesi, on July 28 confirmed that 673 passengers were rescued after the fire on the KM 'Barcelona V.A.', while three passengers were killed and two others remain missing. The two missing passengers have been identified as Leivi Alba, 19 years old, and Hamen Langinang, 59 years old. The deceased passengers were identified as Asna Lapai, 50 years old, Zakarias Tindigulangi and Yuliana Gumolung, 40 years old. The SAR agency has decided to end the search operation, which had been ongoing for the past seven days. The operation transitioned to passive monitoring, and SAR personnel would only be deployed upon receiving credible indications regarding the whereabouts of the missing victims. Local fishermen and tourism workers were praised for helping evacuate passengers during the early stages of the fire. Appreciation was expressed for the residents of Gangga and Bangka islands for their swift action in rescuing passengers and bringing them to safety. The Ministry of Transportation, through UPP Likupang, has prepared a preliminary incident report and was conducting further investigation. According to confirmation from the Radio Coastal Stations (SROP) of Manado and Bitung, no distress alert signal or EPIRB transmission was detected.The BASARNAS also confirmed that no distress signals were received from the vessel. The Marine Command Center (MCC) of the Ministry of Transportation has coordinated with relevant agencies and conducted tracking of the vessel’s last known position. The last AIS signal was recorded one day prior to the incident, with the vessel being located at Melonguane Port, and no further AIS tracking has been detected since. The Ministry of Transportation continued to coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure the ongoing safety, support, and investigation related to the incident. Report with photo: https://hubla.dephub.go.id/Indonesianmaritimesafetyinformation/page/news/read/25559/km-barcelona-va-terbakar-di-perairan-gangga-575-penumpang-selamat-3-meninggal-dunia-2-dalam-pencarian-km-barcelona-va-caught-fire-in-gangga-waters-575-passengers-rescued-3-confirmed-dead
EVER FEAT
On the afternoon of July 29, 2025, the 'Ever Feat', en route from Navegantes, berthed in the port of Montevideo with two container bays being heavily affected, with between 30 and 40 units crushed, bent, or dislodged. At least two 40-foot containers were left hanging precariously over the vessel’s port side, risking loss overboard, after encountering forceful winds and high waves near Rio Grande do Sul. The structural damage included twisted lashing bars, crushed container walls, and visibly distorted fittings on deck. Work was started in order to secure the cargo to allow the ship to sail again. The National Port Authority (ANP) was in charge of the planning, along with the shipping company and the corresponding port operators. The Coast Guard issued a series of recommendations for prevention during the handling of containers, due to the fact that they contain fertilizers, which are classified as toxic or polluting. The cargo was being handled by the company Monteco. It was currently unknown if any of the containers fell into the water. Due to the damaged containers, each client's insurance policies were activated. As a precaution, containment and clean-up protocols were triggered alongside a full cargo review. The nature of the collapse suggested internal system stress caused by extreme rolling and pitching, possibly exceeding the vessel’s designed stability limits. Classification society surveyors boarded the ship early on July 30. Their work includes verifying hull integrity, checking for leaks of hazardous materials, and examining damaged lashing equipment. Reports with photos and video: https://www.subrayado.com.uy/buque-contenedores-danados-y-punto-caer-esta-el-puerto-montevideo-accidente-brasil-n983820 https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nacional/llego-al-puerto-montevideo-barco-que-sufrio-danos-una-tormenta-mas-20-contenedores-resultaron-danados-n6010550 https://www.elpais.com.uy/maritimas/buque-se-accidento-frente-a-rio-grande-y-llego-a-montevideo-con-los-contenedores-a-punto-de-caer-al-agua
LADEJARL
On July 29, 2025, the 'Ladejarl', which was supposed to sail from Trondheim to Kristiansund via Brekstad with a departure at 4:20 p.m., had cancel the service due to technical problems, which aroseat around 5 p.m. en route between Lensvik and Hasselvika. The ferry had to return to Trondheim after the crew discovered a diesel leak. The speedboat was then operating with one engine instead of two. The Norled shipping company was setting up alternative transport for all those affected.
MALENE OSTERVOLD
arrived Feda Scrapyard 17.07.25 https://www.maritime-pics.com/2025/07/29/to-be-broken-up-malene-ostervold-seen-at-her-final-destination-ship-breakers-green-yard-feda-in-norway-17-july-2025/?fbclid=IwY2xjawL2vbtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpv0ekzLU8XjjrUzAWrIyEN7y49_J3r5_I5-1MCrL8Uc7e4LFCzGKcXXDcz__aem_qPx7yGPhOkni2dfDUIjhJQ
CG TAHOMA
The ' Tahoma (WMEC 908) ’ offloaded approximately 9,970 pounds of cocaine worth $73.7 million, on July 29, 2025, at Port Everglades. The seized contraband was the result of an interdiction on June 24, 2025, approximately 120 miles northwest of Ecuador by the crew of the patrol vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team and the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety & Security Team Houston were also involved in the interdiction operations. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4258314/coast-guard-offloads-more-than-74-million-in-illicit-drugs-interdicted-in-the-e/
